Entertainment

Steven Spielberg will make his TIFF debut with The Fabelmans

Organizers say the Hollywood director will make his first Toronto International Film Festival appearance with his semi-autobiographical drama The Fabelmans, starring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Vancouver-born Seth Rogen.

Semi-autobiographical drama The Fabelmans will bring Hollywood director to Toronto film festival for 1st time

Steven Spielberg attends the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival Opening Night in Hollywood on April 21, 2022. Spielberg is set to make his Toronto International Film Festival debut this year with the semi-autobiographical drama The Fabelmans. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Steven Spielberg is coming to the Toronto International Film Festival.

Organizers say the 75-year-old Hollywood director will make his first TIFF appearance with the semi-autobiographical drama The Fabelmans, starring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Vancouver-born Seth Rogen.

The 20th century coming-of-age tale draws from Spielberg's youth in Arizona with the story of a young man, played by Gabriel LaBelle, who learns of a shattering family secret just as he discovers the power of cinema.

Spielberg co-wrote The Fabelmans, his first screenwriting effort since 2001's sci-fi epic A.I. Artificial Intelligence. He worked alongside frequent collaborator Tony Kushner, who wrote MunichLincoln and West Side Story.

Each of those films launched significant awards campaigns upon their release, but all of them skipped premieres at TIFF, one of the biggest launch pads for Oscar consideration.

TIFF is set to take place from Sept. 8 to 18 this year, while The Fabelmans will make its way to movie theatres in late November.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Friend is a reporter with The Canadian Press.